The Savvy Adjuster Podcast

When trees fall on property, the damage is often just the beginning. In this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast , host Alpine Intel Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols is joined by HMI Vice President of Operations Doug Malawsky to discuss how adjusters can navigate emergency tree removal claims with confidence.  Emergency tree removal can impact claim timelines, policyholder satisfaction, and...

With spring storm season in full swing, adjusters handling hail and wind damage claims involving asphalt shingle roofs need ways to make the process easier. In this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast, Alpine Intel Executive Vice President of Innovation Chris Scallion joins Sales Operations Manager Chris Nichols to discuss Donan On Demand, a new solution designed to streamline roof damage claims...

In this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast , we’re talking about the effects of smoke and fire damage on business-critical equipment. Host Chris Nichols welcomes back TechLoss Consulting and Restoration Corporate Vice President Bob Karbin and Vice President of Engineering Mikey Minor to discuss concerns about smoke and fire damage claims and the fire damage restoration process. These include co...

It’s time to drill down into the nuances of dental equipment claims with The Savvy Adjuster Podcast . When a peril impacts a dental office, the damage can extend beyond the patient chair. Host Chris Nichols is joined by TechLoss Consulting and Restoration Corporate Vice President Bob Karbin and Vice President of Engineering Mikey Minor to discuss the wide array of specialized equipment that can be...

Lightning and surge are often linked with electronics failures, but other perils might be playing a role. Alpine Intel Executive Vice President of Specialty Assessments Paul Whitmore and Alpine Intel’s Strategic Sales Development Manager Chris Tomlinson rejoin Alpine Intel Sales Operations Manager Chris Nichols on The Savvy Adjuster Podcast to discuss other causes of loss that lead to electrical e...

The Savvy Adjuster Podcast returns with a look at various types of residential electrical equipment frequently found in claims. Alpine Intel Sales Operations Manager Chris Nichols is joined by Alpine Intel Executive Vice President of Specialty Assessments Paul Whitmore and Alpine Intel’s Strategic Sales Development Manager Chris Tomlinson, who each have an extensive history in the insurance indust...

In this episode, Alpine Intel Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols is joined by National Fire Experts Certified Fire Protection Specialists (CFPS) Ted Forbes and Ryan Bain to discuss why it’s important to evaluate fire suppression systems following a fire incident. You’ll understand the difference between the certified fire investigators who determine origin and cause and the fire protection speci...

In this short episode, Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols returns with Forensic Engineer Brennan Clark of Alpine Intel’s Component Testing Laboratories and Curtis Whitfill, Vice President of SIU Compliance and CE Programs at Alpine Intel’s VRC Investigations. They discuss the role potential litigation plays in the evidence-gathering and preserving process for vehicle crash investigations and aut...

Learn how vehicle forensics and other investigation techniques can be included in the auto claims process during this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast. Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols discusses what a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder, infotainment equipment, and 3D scan can tell adjusters with Forensic Engineer Brennan Clark of Alpine Intel’s Component Testing Laboratories. Curtis Whitfill,...

On this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast, Alpine Intel’s Chief Revenue Officer, Reza Nikrooz, joins Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols to discuss the risks insurance adjusters face when they seek to settle a claim. Using his background in the insurance industry, he explains the risk of making a settlement decision without having all the facts, as well as steps adjusters can take to help ens...

Alpine Intel’s Customer Education Director, Jay Dykstra, is back on The Savvy Adjuster Podcast to discuss measures policyholders can take to protect their electronics from lightning and high voltage surge. He’ll explain to Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols and our listeners some options to prevent power surges—and why they’re not always enough. Additional Resources Alpine Intel Resources Page:...

Alpine Intel’s Customer Education Director, Jay Dykstra, once again talks with Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols on The Savvy Adjuster Podcast . This time, their conversation revolves around lightning damage to electronics, HVAC equipment, and more. Jay sheds some light on why policyholders often suspect lightning when another peril is at play, how experts deliver an accurate cause of loss, wha...

Chris Nichols welcomes a very special guest to this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast : Damon Stafford, Alpine Intel’s CEO. Damon talks about the philosophies he lays out in his book, Believe in Better: The Evolution of Core Principles That Pioneered an Industry , in which he draws upon his decades of experience to share tips about how leaders can succeed, particularly in the evolving insuranc...

This episode of Alpine Intel’s The Savvy Adjuster Podcast features Alpine Intel Technical Education Trainer Kevin Huelsman and Donan licensed Forensic Engineer Josh Hegenderfer sharing intriguing their own stories of inspections of roofs with suspected wind-damage. These examples highlight the unique possibilities in each claim and that the actual cause of loss isn’t always what it was reported to...

Returning guest and Alpine Intel Technical Education Trainer Kevin Huelsman, and Donan licensed Forensic Engineer Josh Hegenderfer join Senior Account Manager Chris Nichols to talk about how wind can damage asphalt shingle roofs and other perils that might be mistaken for wind. They share their respective insights as a former adjuster and an onsite inspector, so listeners can know when an objectiv...

National Fire Experts Certified Fire Investigator Mark Howard once again sits down with The Savvy Adjuster Podcast host Chris Nichols to talk about kitchen fires. This time, they’re exploring what makes commercial kitchen fire investigations different from residential ones, including the equipment and additional parties more likely to be involved in fire claims impacting hotel, restaurant, or cafe...

Join host Chris Nichols in this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast as he chats with National Fire Experts (NFE) Certified Fire Investigator Mark Howard about residential kitchen fires, including range top and cooktop fires. You’ll learn how NFE’s systematic approach to fire investigation helps answer questions adjusters ask about each unique claim. Chris and Mark will also discuss common kitche...

Host Chris Nichols is once again joined by Curtis Whitfill, VRC Investigations’ vice president of SIU compliance and CE programs. Continuing with the theme of scene investigations, this episode explores why they are so important in claims where vehicle insurance fraud is suspected. Learn what red flags might indicate questionable claims and what information an investigator can obtain to confirm th...

In 2025’s first episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast, host Chris Nichols welcomes VRC Investigations’ Vice President of SIU Compliance and CE Programs Curtis Whitfill to delve into the importance of scene investigations. Find out what red flags adjusters notice that may indicate the need for an expert, techniques VRC employs to get the evidence to verify claim facts, parties they interview, and m...

We wrap up 2024 on The Savvy Adjuster Podcast with a discussion about how recent and upcoming changes to codes and regulations can impact claims, and a look at the various sources available to adjusters who want to make sure they’re making accurate settlement decisions. Host Chris Nichols is joined by returning guests, Alpine Intel’s Director of Customer Education Jay Dykstra and Donan’s Principal...

Host Chris Nichols welcomes National Fire Experts General Manager Pat Walsh and Senior National Fire Experts Account Executive Kathleen Riley to talk about NFE’s use of customer feedback and insurance industry pain points to enhance origin and cause investigation offerings. This earned the brand a spot in PropertyCasualty360’s Insurance Luminaries Class of 2024  in the Claims Innovation category....

On this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast, host Chris Nichols is joined by Donan’s Principal Forensic Engineer Rich Grimshaw and Senior Project Engineer Alec Haugdahl to discuss the huge topic of water intrusion, leaks, and other sources of water damage to structural components. Learn from their expertise and experience about internal and external water sources, which structural elements are m...

Host Chris Nichols is once again joined by Alpine Intel Customer Education Director Jay Dykstra. This time, Jay’s delving into “the dreaded puffback.” Learn what puffbacks are, what can cause them, and what these challenging (and messy) claims can look like for both the adjuster and assessing expert. Listen on Apple , Spotify , or your favorite podcast platform. Additional Resources About Alpine I...

Host Chris Nichols talks about the causes and effects of smoke and fire to HVAC systems with Alpine Intel’s Customer Education Director Jay Dykstra in this episode of The Savvy Adjuster Podcast. Find out why even distant fires may lead to a claim, which different types of smoke can impact equipment, how changing codes and regulations affect adjusters’ processes, and more.  Discussed in This Episod...

Senior National Fire Experts Account Executive Kathleen Riley and NFE Fire Operations Manager John Hill join host Chris Nichols again to talk fire investigations. Specifically, they delve into how both adjusters and certified fire investigators can collect and analyze witness statements – even when stories change or don’t support the facts of the claim. Listen on Apple , Spotify , or your favorite...